Vegetable separator



1951 G. J. OLNEY VEGETABLE SEPARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1949 Oct. 9, 1951 G. J. OLNEY VEGETABLE SEPARATOR 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1949 INVENTOR. 4 1 w 7 J? Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEGETABLE SEPARATOR George J. Olney, Westernville, N. Y.

Application February 2, 1949, Serial No. 74,201

2 Claims.

- was invented to separate both heavy and light foreign matter from green shelled peas, green shelled lima' beans, all varieties of soaked dry beans and vegetables of like nature by means of a controlled circulating flow of Water.

Although the operation under said patent was successful, under a certain load, when speeding it up, excessive water currents were produced during the separation of the heavy foreign matter such as gravel, bolts, nails, pieces of broken glass from the vegetable material. These excessive water currents caused waste of the peas, beans or other like vegetables.

The present invention is designed to increase the capacity or load of'the machine over the prior device by feeding the material in such manner that both the heavy foreign matter and the lighter trash has more time and opportunity to separate from the good material.

This is done by dropping the heavy foreign matter separating unit well below the working .surface of the flotation tank to give a greater separation area and the opportunity to deflect the upwardly flowing current through the throat of the machine by means of an adjustable curved top baffle plate, whereby to prevent its interference with the smooth flow across the top surface which carries light foreign material to a refuse receptacle.

Furthermore, the heavy foreign matter unit is separated, whereby the front section of the unit can be adjusted to give a variable opening to this part of the machine, and also allows for a quick removal of the other parts of the machine. The improvement allows also for the quick removal of the water deflecting plate located immediately in front of the feed hopper.

The material to be separated is fed into an accelerated deepening water medium which has no forward flow except what is induced by incoming material and the friction of the flow of water moving under the base of the feed hopper directly across the top deflecting plate which allows the light material or trash to be carried directly forward, while the good material and heavy foreign matter slowly drop as they reach the accelerated depth of water. The heavy foreign matters will sink first separating itself from the good material which aided by an intermediate current moves forward and is carried therebeyond into a chamber of its own.

The above objects of the invention will be understood by referring to the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawingsthe machine embodies an angle iron frame I supporting a feed hopper 2 at the left hand side of the frame I above the water supply trough 3. An adjustable gate 5 is slidingly mounted on the right hand wall 6 of hopper 2.

Wall 6 of hopper 2 is substantially perpendicular, whereby the rear wall 1 slants towards wall 6. The hopper has two side walls 8, 8 that connect walls 6 and 1. It is open at both top and bottom. A cross frame angle iron 10 is welded to rear wall 1 near its bottom part to aid in supporting hop er 2. The ends of iron ID are connected to frame I.

The means for operating gate 5 relative to wall 6 of hopper 2 comprises rods H, II located near to ends of gate 5 which extends across the machine. Rods II, II slide in guide apertures made in lower angle iron [5 and upper bracket l6, !6 which are welded to wall 6 of hopper 2. The upper ends of said rods H, II are threaded for the application of winged nuts 11, I I mounted on the upper ends of rods II, II extended above brackets l6, [6.

A smooth faced roller 28 is mounted on shaft 2| having loose bearings in upstanding bearing blocks 22, 22 attached to sides of the machine.

It is located below :but partially projecting into the whole length of lower opening 25 of hopper 2.

Roller 20 rotates clockwise and aids in carrying a given quantity of vegetables and accompanying foreign matter to the right below the lower end of adjustable gate 5, whereby to cause the vegetables and foreign matter to drop into the water in trough 3 at zone A located therebelow.

Trough 3 extends the width of the machine and one third the length of the machine. It comprises a lower slanting base 30 having a flange that is welded at 3| to the end and side walls of the machine. A water inlet pipe 32 having a plurality of apertures" 23 therein extends across the machine. Apertures 23 are made in pipe 32 opposite baffle 35, whereby to direct the flow of water thereagainst. Pipe 32 is projected through one of the side walls 33 of trough 3. The force of the water from pipe 32 is arrested somewhat by an L shaped partition 35 extending across the machine and welded at either end to the side walls 33, 33. The horizontal part 36 of partition 35 is spaced a short distance from slanting base 30, to allow the water to pass therethrough. It comes then in contact with dam 31 extending across the machine. Dam 31 has a flange 38 that is welded to base plate 30. The ends of said dam 31 are welded to side walls 33, 33 of trough 3. An adjustable U-shaped member 38 is fitted to dam 31. It has a frictional engagement therewith, whereby it can be held at any adjusted position to create an even flow over its top edge.

Beyond dam 3'I trough 3 is divided into a plurality of compartments by upstanding thin partition plates 40 disposed longitudinally of trough 3, whereby to aid in preventing any cross currents on said base plate 30.

It has been found desirable to drop the heavy foreign matter separating unit well below the working surface of the flotation tank. To this end a removable plate extending the width of the machine and disposed at an angle of about 40 degrees to base 39 is mounted near the end of base 30. It is held in place in a detachable manner at the upper end by a channel or lip member 5| that has its angled side 52 resting against side 53 of V-shaped member 58. Side 55 of member 54 is welded to the underside of base 30. The lower edge of right angle side 59 of channel member 5| rests on the upper Surface of plate 50 when said plate 50 is in assembled position.

The lower end of plate 50 is bent at right angles at 51 with its free part terminating in a round trough 58. Part 58 rests against ledges 59, 59 riveted to the side walls 33, 33 of frame I. Other ledges 60, 63 support plate 50 from beneath and are riveted to side walls 33, 33.

Swinging locking arms 6|, 8| pivoted to walls 33, 33 at 62, 62 and provided with flanges 63, 63 at their lower free ends rest on plate 50 to hold the same in position.

In assembling plate 50 channel or lip 5| will be mounted to said plate 50 as shown in Fig. 1 and then lip 5| disposed in the opening provided by member 54, whereas the lower end of plate 50 will be disposed above ledges 60, with its bent side or trough 58 resting against ledges 59, 59.

A passageway for the flow of water is made at 65 by the trough side 58 of plate 50 and the variable throat V-shaped member 86 held in ad justed position by headed bolts 61, 6'! projecting through elongated slots 68 therein and through partition wall 69. Winged nuts 10, 10 are mounted on the threaded end of bolts Bl, 61, whereby to clamp member 66 in place to wall 69.

Lip member 5| presents a vertical wall 56, whereby to provide a dead space in front for the discharge of water from the free end of plate 30.

Furthermore dropping the heavy foreign separating unit I2 hereinafter mentioned well below the working surface of the flotation trough 3 or Water lever represented by the dotted line ?3 will give opportunity to deflect the upwardly flowing current through the throat 65.

The means for deflecting the upwardly flowing current from throat B5 embodies an adjustable, curved top bafile plate I5 removably held in place by brackets 16, 1-6 attached to opposite sides 33,

33 of the machine and provided with open grooves I9, I8 with which the straight edges of plate I5 can slide and be held by frictional contact. The curved top of baffle plate I5 will prevent the upwardly flowing of current from throat 05 from interfering with the smooth slow flow of current across the top of separating tank 80, which slow current carries light foreign matter or trash. Adjustable V-shaped throat member 66 allows a variable opening for throat 55. Baffle plate 11 is welded at either end to side plates 33, 33 and projects up into grooves I8, 38 enlarged at their lower ends to permit plates and IT to overlap each other, to allow for adjustment.

There are disposed in vertical position in float tank baffle plates 8|, 82 and 83 spaced from each other and from the sloping side of tank 80, whereby to aid in deflecting downward any peas that are floating just below the water level I3. Said bafiie plates BI, 02 and 33 are graduated in height in the order named. Plate 8 I, however, has a curved upward lip 84 to further aid in diverting the peas downward, and a lower angled part 85 to aid in directing the flow of material towards passage I02. Said plate 8| to 83 inclusive extend across tank 80 and are welded at either end to Walls 33, 33.

An adjustable gate extends across the rear wall 9| of tank 80 and is held in place by headed bolts 92, 92 projecting through said side 9| and through elongated slots in gate 90. Gate 90 will divert downward any peas escaping past baffle plates 8|, 82 and B3.

The upper part of rear wall 9| of tank 80 is bent downward at an angle to itself to form with walls 33, 33 a discharge outlet 95 for the light foreign matter into the inclined trough 96 supported at one end by wall 33 of the machine and also by the frame I.

A-pocket or receptacle I00 is formed by extending the four sloping sides of tank 80 thereto in an inverted pyramidal manner towards which peas or other vegetables gravitate and eventually settle. An upwardly slanting pipe I02 forming passageway between receptacle I00 and screen I06 is made by bending the material comprising one of the walls SI of tank 80. Its open end I05 is extended into the end of the rotatable conical screen I06 mounted on rotatable shaft I01 extending through the center thereof. Shaft I01 is supported in bearings I08, I08 mounted on the frame I of the machine. It has a bearing in hub IIO of spider III forming part of the screen I06 and is held to turn therewith by set bolt I I2 and woodruff key I I3.

A stationary perforated pipe H4 i disposed centrally of receptacle I00. It has a bearing at one end in hub IIO provided with a bushing H5 and at the other has a bearing I I6 in frame I. It runs intermediately through a hub II'I provided with a bushing I I8 of spider I I I. Pipe I I4 is connected to pipe II8 by an elbow II9. Pipe II8 has a shut off valve I20 therein. It runs to a source of water supply.

An ejector water pipe I25 is threaded to enlarged part I26 formed integral with wall I21 of receptacle I00. It is held therein by nut I28 threaded to said pipe I25. Ejector pipe I 25 is connected to water pump I30 which in turn is connected to some source of water by a pipe I3I to force water directly across receptacle I00, whereby to force the vegetables up through pipe I82 into rotatable conical screen I06.

A water inlet pipe I35 is connected to the lower end of heavy foreign separating unit I2. There is also a water supply pipeIeG attached at I31 to the water upply compartment I38. A plurality of openings I 40 is made in the top of compartment I 38 across the front thereof for the passage of the water to compartment MI located above compartment I38. Compartment MI is divided into six separate zones by partition plates I 32 into each of which water flows through one of the openings I40. Furthermore, each of the six separate zones formed by plates I42 is divided into auxiliary zones by partitions I 85 that extend in front of openings I40 to end'of compartment MI. Pump I30 forces the water through the system of pipes;

' Operation I30 is started to circulate the water through the various compartments and out through opening 32. into trough 3. Its passage will be checked somewhat by an L-shaped partition 35 and afterwards by dam 3'! which previously has been adjusted to a predetermined heighth, whereby to allow an even passage of a limited amount of water of shallow depth to flow along trough 3. Beyond dam 3? the water will flow through the compartments formed by upstanding partition plates 40.

When the water reaches the end of slightly slanting plate 35 it will come in contact with lip member 5| and will drop abruptly perpendicularly from the free edge thereof and parallel to side 56 of lip member 5I, whereby to prevent any eddies in front of said member 5 I.

After the water has started to now through the machine the material including peas and foreign matter is dumped into the upper end of hopper 2, and comes in contact with roller 20 that has been set in motion previously to turn clockwise by an electric motor, not shown.

Roller 20 will feed the material out through the passage 3 between its surface and adjustable gate 5, and be assisted therein by the lubricating action of the shallow force of the running water down the inclined plate 30 through the channels formed by plates 40. When the material reaches the edge of lip member 5| the heavy foreign matter such as stones, sticks, glass, etc., will drop down abruptly on the steeply inclined removable plate 50, pass through throat 55 and lodge in heavy foreign separating unit I2 from where it can be expelled by ejector pipe I25.

The peas and light trash will be carried along on the surface of the slowly flowing current across the top of the chamber, whereby to carry the peas to the main separating tank 80 and the'light trash therebeyond to discharge outlet 05 and inclined trough 96.

Dropping the stone separating unit I2 well below the water surface I3 of the flotation tank 80 will give opportunity to the deflected upward current through throat 65 to carry the good material forward, whereas the adjustable curved top bafile plate 8! will prevent its interference with the smooth slow flow necessary of the current across the top of tank 80 in order to handle properly the light trash.

Furthermore, separating the heavy foreign matter unit I2 from tank 80 and placing an adjustable V-shaped throat member 66 in connection therewith will allow for a variable opening Pump at this location which is found desirable to accommodate a variance of currents that might effect the slow flow of the top current. Moreover, the plates 50 and I5 allow for a quick removal of the parts from each other for cleaning or repairing.

The feeding material as it reaches. the edge of member 5| will allow the peas to slowly flow downward with the heavy or trash material dropping easily through said peas to the surface of plate 50.

Moreover the slow flow of water coming from underneath the feed hopper 2 and straight across deflecting plate 5| tends to spread the incoming material for a short distance in front of the hopper 2 and thereby accentuate both the separation of heavy and light material.

This same flow is in a direction towards the discharge end 95 of tank 80 and efiects a slowly moving current which carries the light materials with it and outwardly over discharge end 95 of tank 80 to waste trough 96.

The deflector plate 5I will prevent any Whirlpool action immediately in front thereof to prevent theitrapping of light materials at this location; otherwise said light materials would become quickly waterlogged and sink with the good material or peas;

In separating materials like peas, some varieties have a specific gravity so close to that of the separating medium that a very close control of the working flow must be made. duced means for forcing the good material out from the main flotation tank 80 after all separations have been made, relieves the current flow-.

ing through the stone separating throat from this double duty and allows a much closer adjustment to be made at this point, giving naturally a better separation of heavy and light materials. Due to this result the uncontrolled currents do not impair the separation of light materials as there is a much smaller amount of water in carry some good peas up and out with the trash.

By dropping and deflecting this stone throat 65 current downwardly will allow this current to assist the flow of good material still further on its travel towards the discharge outlet 95 at the bottom instead of impeding this travel.

The force of the passage of water through throat 65 is gauged to move the light trash and good material upward but allows heavy material to sink.

The peas accumulated in pocket I00 of the main tank will be forced up passageway I02 aided by the flow of water from ejector pipe I25 into conical screen I06 where they are washed by sprays of water from perforated pipe I M.

The peas in screen I06 can be removed for canning at the will of the operator. To this end screen I06 .is made conical. Its rotation carries the material forward to aid in its discharge.

Shaft I01 is rotated by motor I50 connected thereto by sprockets and sprocket chain I5I.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a vegetable cleaner and separator, a trough having a slanting base, a dam mounted in said trough, a removable U-shaped member fitted to said dam, a removable plate disposed at an angle to said trough, a lip member having a vertical side to aid in holding said plate in position, ledges mounted in said separator for sup- Separate inporting said plate, swinging arms' mounted in said" separator to aid in holding said plate in position, a trough formed on the lower part of said plate to aid in forming a passageway, a removable V-shaped member cooperating with said last named trough to complete said passageway, a separating unit formed below said passageway, a main tank formed in said casing, another tank disposed adjacent said first named tank for separating the good material from the foreign material; a baffle plate having a curved upper end for deflecting the flow from said passageway, other baffle plates mounted in; said last named tank for deflecting the good material towards the bottom of. said tank, a gate mounted to said tank for deflecting the good material into said tank and an exit passageway for the material: to move out" of said tank.

2. In a vegetable cleaner and separator; a casing; a trough formed in said casing, a dam mounted in said trough, a U shaped member mounted on said dam, a plate disposed at an angle to said trough, a lip member to aid in holding said plate in position, said lip member havinga vertical side, whereby to prevent eddies, ledges mounted to said casing for-supporting said plate, swinging arms for holding said plate on said ledges, a right angle extension formed on said plate to aid in' formin a passageway, a

V-shaped member cooperating with said right angle extension to complete said passageway, a separating unit formed in said casing below said passageway, a main tank formed in said casing and connected to said first named tank by said passageway, brackets mounted in said main tank, bafile plates mounted in said brackets for deflecting the current from said passageway, another baffle plate formed in said main tank, a lip formed on said last named baffle plate to aid in diverting material downward into said tank, other bafiie plates mounted in said last named tank, said last named bafiie plates being graduated in heighth for deflecting material downward into said tank, a passageway leading from said main tank and means for forcing the material in said tank through said last named passageway.

GEORGE J. OLNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,474,284. Olney Nov. 13, 1923 2,198,390 Olney Apr. 23, 1940 2,262,465 Olney Nov. 11, 1941 

